Mechanical musical instrument.



No. 844,984. PATENTED FEB. 19. 190:

v P. WUEST, JR.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.25,1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

PATENTED FEB. '19, 1907.

P. WUEST, JR. MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN.26,1904.

a SHEETS-SHEET z.

FIZZ-1K PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

P. WUEST, JR. MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.25, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

FIGJT.

INVENTOR; Pfl/L/P wmfsrmg WITNESSES:

UNITED sT rEs PATENT OEEIOEQ PHILIP WUEST, JR, or PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA, AssieNoR TO THE AUTO-MANUAL PIANO-ACTION COMPANY, OFPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- vANIA, A CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY. Y

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

To all whont it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PHILIP WUEs'r, Jr., of Philadelphia, in the State ofPem'lsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMechanical Musical Instruments, whereof the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

, My invention relates particularly to that class of instrumentsknown aspianopla:y' er. Such an instrument comprises a series of finger-leversarranged to impinge upon the digitals of a piano or similar instrumentand actuated in any predetermined sequence by means of respectivepneumatic mechanisms controlled by a web of perforated paper, which isprogressed over a pneumatic trackerbar provided with a series ofapertures correspending with said series of finger-levers.

Broadly considered, it is the object of my invention to provide means tooperate the pedals of a piano or similar instrument, par ticularly theloud pedal, in proper accord with the music being played and without theinterposition of the operator, although in the form of my inventionhereinafter described the pedal mechanism is so arranged as to bemanually controlled by the Operator, if desired.

In Letters Patent ofthe United States No. 7 44,990, granted to meNovember 24, 1903, I disclosed a device-for the purpose above describedof which it is characteristic that a selected series of levers,operatively related to the strings of a piano or similar instrumenthave common control of the mechanism for-operating the pedal, so thatthe latter is depressed automatically and is not released so long as anyone of said controlling-levers is maintained in operation.

Inasmuch as some musical compositions contain legato runs and similarpassages involving such sequence of operation of the levers in thecontrolling series as to continuously maintain the pedal in operationwhen constructed as above described, it is one object of my presentinvention to provide means for automatically releasing the pedal duringthe operation of the levers of the coni valve taken on the line V1 VI inFig. III. Fig. V H is a front elevation of the oscillatory trollingseries, so as to avoid discords which are rendered possible by theprolonged freedom of the strings incident to the continued depression ofthe loud pedal.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed January 25, 1904'Serial No. 190.446.

- aforesaid.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

As hereinafter described, my invention contemplates such a constructionand arrangement that'the pedaloperating mechane ism may be operated asthe result of the initial movement of any one of the levers selected tocontrol it and may be released as a consequence of its own movement. Forinstance, as hereinafter described, my present invention contemplates apedal operating device which may be controlled by a selected series offinger-levers and which when set in motion by the control of any one ofsaid levers effects its own release by moving a pneumatic valve andreturns to normal position automatically, to be.again set in operationautomatically by the operation of any lever of said series.

i\loreover, as hereinafter described, my invention also contemplates theautomatic operation of the pedal-applying device Independently of thecontrol of the series of levers In the latter form of my invention thepedal is operated and released by the rhythmic movement of said devicein accordance with the rhythm or tempo of the'composition being played,means being provided to adjust said device to any given rhythm, so thatvariations in the rhythmic movement of said device may be automaticallyeffected by and in accordance with variations in the pneumatic pressureincident to variations in the rh thm of any composition.

1y invention comprehends the various novel features of construction andarrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure I is a fragmentary front elevation of a musicalinstrument comprising a convenient embodiment of my in vention. Fig. 11is a sectional view of the pneumatic motor of the automatic pedal-ocrating device. Fig. III is a plan view oft e manually-operatedslide-valve by which the automatic pedal-operating device may berendered idle, if desired. Fig. IV is a longi tudinal sectional view ofsaid slide-valve, taken on the line 1V 1V in Fig. Ill. Fig. V is atransverse sectional view of said slidevalve, taken on the line V V inFig. 111. Fig. VI is a transverse sectional view of said slidevalve,which is controlled by the selected series of finger-levers. Fig. V 111is a vertical sectional view of said oscillatory valve, taken on theline VIII VIII in Fig. VII. Fig. IX is a transverse sectional viewofsaid oscillatory valve,-taken on the line IX IX in Fig. VIII. Fig. X isa longitudinal sectional view of the automatic pedal-releasing valve,taken on the line X X in Fig. I. Fig. XI is an end ele 'ation of saidmusical instrument shown in Fig. I.

In said figures, 1 is the casing of the instrument, in which is mountedthe series of iingerdevers 2, arranged to impinge upon the digitals of apiano or similar instrument. Said linger-levers 2 are operated byrespectively independent pneumatic mechanisms, which are located withinthe casing 1 below the table 5 thereof and controlled by a perforatedpaper web 8, which is initially wound upon the roller 9 and unwound fromsaid roller and wound upon the roller 10 by the operation of theinstrument. Said web 8 being thus progressed with respect to .the pneumatlc tracker-bar 12 opens and closes its apertures 13, which arearranged in a series corresponding with the series of finger-levers 2,

and thus effects the operation of said levers 2.

in any sequence predetermined bythc arrangement of the perforations insaid web 8. The vertical rod 16, (shown at the left-hand side of Fig.I.) which is piv-otally connected to the bell-crank lever 17, whosefulcrum 18 is in stationary relation with the casing 1, is provided atits lower end with means to depress the pedal of the piano when said rodis raised. Said lever 17 is provided with two upwardly-extending arms 21and 22. arm 21 is connected by the link 24 with the lever 25, whichbeing pivoted at its lower extremity is conveniently flattened at itsupper extremity 26, as indicated in Fig. I, to be readily fingered bythe operator, who may thereby manually depress the loud pedal. The otherarm 22 of said lever 17 is connected with a pneumatic motor, by which itmay be, operated to depress the loud pedal automatically, as follows:Said arm 22 is connected by the link 27 with the lever 28 of thepneumatic-motor bellows 29, which latter by collapsing, as hereinafterdescribed, shifts the lever 17, and thereby depresses said loud pedal.The operation of said bellows 29 is controlled by the pneumaticdiaphragm 31, (shown in Fig. II,) which is mounted in the primaryvalve-box 32 andprovided with a vent-valve 34 and the exhaust-valve 35,coupled. by the rod 36. The valves 34 and 35 respectively register withthe vr-ntport 37 and the exhaust.port 38, and said valves nor- The 1 themain exhaust-bellows of the instrument through the conduit 40, and thearrangement is such that when the conduit 4], beneath the diaphragm 31,is closed said diaphragm is depressed and the valves 34 and 35maintained in the position shown by the external atmosphere opposed tothe partial vacuum within said box 32. When, however, the conduit 41 isopen to the atmosphere, the ditference in between the exhaust-conduit4t) and the bypass duct 42 is such that the diaphragm 31 is instantlyuplifted, the ventport 37 closed, and the exhaust-port 38 opened.Communication being thus established between the bellows 29 and theexhaust-conduit 40, said bellows is collapsed,

and by the link 27, lever-arm 22, level" 17, p &c., the loud pedal ofthe piano is automatic ally depressed against the stress of a spring,which tends to restore the mechanism aforesaid to its normal position.The pedal may be released and the motor-bellows 29 'restored to itsnormal position by closing said.

'conduit 41, for thereby the pressure above and below the diaphragm 31is equalized through theby-pass duct 42. The port 38 is closed bythevalve 35, the port 37 simultaneously opened, and the bellows 29 inflatedby atmospheric pressure through the port 37. As hereinafter described,the loud pedal may be depressed and released by said motor-bellows 29 byrespectively opening and 7 closing said conduit 41 in either of threeways: first, by manually shifting a valve 50 both to open and close it;second, by manually shifting said valve 50 to openit and automaticallyshitting a releasing-valve 63 to close it: third, by automaticallyshifting a valve 72 to open it under control of any one of a selectedseries of said finger-levers 2 and automatically shifting saidreleasing-valve 63 to close it.

Referring to Figs. I and III to IX, inclusive, said conduit 41, abovedescribed with reference to Fig. II, extends to the slidevalve casing44, wherein it terminates in the ports 45 and 46, respectively adjoiningthe ports 47 and 48. All of said ports are norinally closed by theslide-valve 50 when it is shifted to a position wherein its recess 51 isintermediate of the ports 45 and 46. Said valve 50 is provided with arod 54, WllOSe upper extremity 55 extends adjacent to theupper extremityof the lever 25 and is likewise flattened to be readily fingered by theoperator. The motor-bellows 29 may be collapsed and the pedal therebydepressed by manually shitting said valve 50 until its recess 51 mallvoccupy the position shown in Fig. II, l establishes communicationbetween the port wherein the bellows 29 in communication l 45andthe port47,which latter opens directly with the atmosphere through the port 37and l to the outer atmosphere. In such case the may be rocked idly backand forth when the erator employing the lever 25. Said valveloud pedalis manually depressed by the OPr pedal remains d epr'essed by the motor29 until the-valve 50 is manually shifted to cut ofi communicat onbetween the conduit 41 and box 32 is in constant communication with tthe atmosphere through said valve-ports 45 ward the right-hand side ofFig. I, closing and 47. When it is desired to manually inivalve 72 isprovided with the adjustable stud tiate the operation'of said pedal bysaid moically, the valve is manually shifted to the position shown inFigs. I, III, and IV, its recess 51 establishes communication betweenthe ports 46 and 48 in the casing-44. Said port 48 opens into theconduit 57, and the latter terminates in the port 55% in thevalve-casing 59, adjoining the port 60,which l latter, as shown in fulllines in Fig. X, opens to the atmosphere through the valve-casing 59.Said ports 58 and 60 are normally in j communication through the recess62 in the j slide-valve 63, whose upwardly-projeating 1 tappet 64 isencountered and shifted by the collar 66 on the link 24 as the mechanismmoves to the position shown in F ig. I, corresponding with the releaseof the pedal. Said tappet 64 isencountered by the collar 67 on said link24 during the movement of said mechanism to depress the pedal, so thatthe tappet 64then shifts said slide-valve 63 tocommunication betweensaid ports 58 and 60 in the valve-casing 59, thus closin common cationbetween the conduit 41 an the atmos phere, restoring the motor-valves34. and 35 to the position shown in Fi II, and thus per mitting thedistention of the bellows 29 and the release of the pedal as aconsequence of the initial movement of the mechanism to dc press thepedal. Upon being released, as above described, the mechanism, includingthe link 24 and lever-arms 21 and 22, is returned ,toward the left-handside of Fig. l by the spring before referred to as tending to re-- storethe pedal to its normal position. During such return movement the collar66, carried by the link 24, encounters the tappet 64 and returns theslide-valve 3 to the position shown in Figs. I and X, wherein the ports58 and 60 are in communication, and if said port 60 is open to theatmosphere, asabove contemplated, another impulse of the motor-bel lows29 results and the mechanism continues to operate to automaticallydepress and automatically release the pedal by the rhythmicreciprocation of the parts above described, determined by the pneumaticpressureincicent to the rhythm of the musical composition being played.It is to be understood that proper rhy thmic movement of said mechanismmay be attained by adjustment of said collars 66 and 67 on said link 24.When it is desired to initiate the operation of the pedal by said motor29 under the control of any one of a selected series of saidfinger-levers 2, said port. 60 is connected by the conduit 69 with theport 70 in the valve-casing 7i. Said port 70 is normally-closed by thevalve 72, which is mounted to oscillate upon the pin 73 under stress ofthe spring 74, which tends to close it and whose upper extremity isfixed in said casing 71-? fire free lower extremity 75 of said 77 foroperative contact with the swingor tor 29 and then effect its releaseautomatl bail-shaped lever comprising the horizontal l member 78 and thevertical arms 80 and 81 wherein l at its opposite ends, which arnts, asshown in Fig. I, are respectively mounted. for oscillation in thestationary bearings 82 and 83. As shown in Fig. I, said swing-lever.member 7 8 is common to and arranged to be actuated by the vertical armsof the first sixteen of the series of finger-levers 2, counting from theleft-hand end of said series, as slniwn in Fig. l. i he respectivefinger-levers 2 in said selected group of sixteen correspond with thefirst sixteen tones of the lower register of the piano or similarinstrument which my invention is arranged to play, and it is designedthat any chord of tones produced by the automatic progression of theperforated web 8 shall include at least one of the selected group, withthe result that the operation of the fingerlever corresponding with thebass tone of any chord shall not only produce that tone by encounterwith its corresponding digital, but shallalso simultaneously oscillatethe swinglever 78, operate the valve 72 to open the port '79 to theatmosphere, thereby ell'ecting the collapse of the pneumatic bellows'29, and through the links and levers connected with the latter depressthe loud pedal and maintain it in depressed position. until the conduit41 is again closed to the atmosphere-for instance, by the automaticmovement of the re leasing-valve 63, as above lQSC-XlbQ/ll.

Although in the embodiment of my invenpress the pedal as to eil'ect therelease of the latter.

It may he noted that my invention may be advantageously employed inconnection with an ordinary commercial perforated web, without anyalteration or addition to said web to thereby secure the correctoperation of the pedal oi' the instrument played upon without theattention of the operator, who may be entirely ignorant of the properoperation of said pedal. It may he also noted that when thereleasing-valve 63' and the parts connected therewith are properlyadjusted, as above described, the maximum efliciency of the loud pedalmay be secured by the rhythmic depression and release of said pedalautomatically without the attention of the operator and independently ofthe control of the iinger-leyers simply by the pneumatic pressurepresent in the instiument at any instant, which pressure varies withtherhytlunic pulse of the music played, so as to afford the tor throughmanipulation of the pumping tion a'ilects said soundingdevices; apncusee,

character'of thecompositio'n being played. That is to say, the operatingconnections oi said valve 63-may beso adjustedthat the pedal isautomatically depressed and released with every pulse or every accentedgreatest possible freedom of the s rings and volume of tone Withoutdiscord, the vibration of the strings being automatically checked byeach release of the pedal conse quent upon each operativeinovement'thereof. Moreover, the operating connections oi saidreleasing-valve 63 may be so adjusted as to maintain communicationietween the conduit ll and the-atmosphere through the' ports 58 and 60under normal;pneumatic pressure Within the instrin'nent, so that adecrease in such pressure is required to effect the r'elas'e of thepedal by closure of said valve, which may be attained by theoperan'iechanism alone. In other Words, with the arrangement lastcontemplated the loud pedal may be contr lle'd both asto its depressionand, as to its release by variations in the pneumatic pressure in theinstrument occasioned at the Will of the operator and Without directmanipulation of any element of the pedal-operating mechanism abovedescribed.

Although'l have shown my invention embodied in the particular form ofpiano-player known commercially as the pianola, i do not desire to limitmyseh to such embodiment or to such construction of my invention as isadapted thereto, as it is; ob ions that various modifications may hemade Without departing from the essential features of my invention.

1. In a musical instrument, the'combination with a series of leversadapted to open ate'sounding devices; or" a pedal Whose operationatlects said sounding o'evices; a'motor adapted to operate said pedal;and, pneumatic means-arranged to release said pedal automatically as aconsequence of the opera tion of said motor, sulrstantially as setForth.

2'. .ln a musical instrument, the comhina tion with a series of leversadapted to operate sounding devices of a pedal whose operamatic motoradapted to operate said pedal; a pneumatic valve controlling theoperation of said motor and, means arranged to control said. valveautomatically as a consequence ol the movement of said motor,substantially as set forth.

3. In a musical instrument, the combina tion With series ol leversadapted to operate sounding devices; oi a motor; means arranged tooperatively connect said motor with a pedal Whose operation atlects saidsounding devices; pneumatic means arranged toi in iti'ate the operationof said motor; and,

releasing means connected with said motor to check the movement of thelatter and release the petlal as a consequence ol its operativemovement, sutstantially set forth.

In a musical instrument, the combination with a series of levers adaptedto operate sounding devices; of a pneumatic motor; means arranged tooperatively connect said motor with a pedal Whose operation ali'ectssaid sounding devices; a pneumatic valve arran ed to initiate theoperation of said motor; and, a pneumatic releasing-valve operativelyconnected with said. motor to ellect the reverse movement of the latterand the release of said pedal as consequence of i s t operativemovement, substantially as set forth. I

5. In a musical instrument, the combination 'ith. a series of leversadapted. to open atesounding devices; of a pedal Whose operationall'ects said sounding devices; a motor arranged to operate said pedal apneumatic tracker-lair; mechanism arranged to operate the respectivelevers in any sequence predetermined by perforations in web traversinsai l bar; a pneun'iatic valve connecting said motcr with themccl'ianisn'i actuating said levers and arranged to initiate the()[JCFEitlQH of said meter; and, a pneumatic valve arranged to releasesaiil peilal automatically a consequence of the operation of said motor,substantially as set forth.

e. in a musical instrument, the combination. with a series of leversa'laptezl to operate sounding devices; of a peialwl'icse operationaffects sai .i Sir'Llllt'iiD devices; a motor adapted to operate said pel means arrai'igeil to initiate operation of sail motor by a selectedone ofsai .1 levers; and, means indepen-zlcnt of sairl levers emerged torelease said pedal autijimatically as a consequence of the opcration ofsai-L'l motor, substantially as set l orth.

'7. In a-musical instrument, the combination with a series of leversopcratively re latecl to the st ings of a piano or similar instriuncnt;o1 pneumatic l'racl e1'-bar; mechanism to operate saizl lovers in anysequence preleterminerl by pcrlorati.ons in. a Web traversing saidtracker i381; mechanism comprising a motor cperativcly connected tooperate the pedal cl a piano or similar instrun'ient; a pneumatic valvearranged to render saitl motor operative; a pneumatic valve arranged torelease or'render said mo: tor inoperative; and, an ai'ljustableoperative connection. between said pedal operating mechanism and saidreleasing-valve, sub stantially as set i' .rth. i

8. in a'musical iustrun'icnt, the combination with a series ol loversadapted to operate sound lug" devices; of a pedal Whose operationail'ccts saial soui-iding devices amotor adaptel to operate said pedal;means arangcd to release said pedal automati rally as a 001156? quenceof the operation of said motor;- and, means to adjustably vary theactuating element of said releasing means, substantially as set fort h.-

9. In a musical instrument, the combination with a series offinger-levers arranged to impinge upon the digitals of a piano orsimilar instrument; of mechanism. arranged to operate the pedal of apiano or similar instrument;' means arranged to automatically ei'l ectthe operation ol said mechanism, eontemporaneously with the operation ofa selected finger-lever; means to render said mechanism independent ofsaid linger-lever at the will of the operator; and, means arranged toautomatically release said pedal independently of said finger-lever,substantially as set forth.

10'. in a musical instrument, the combination. with a series oflinger-levers arranged to impinge upon the digitals of a piano orsimilar instrument; of mechanism adapted to engage the pezlal of a pianoor similar instrument; means arranged to automatically effeet theoperation of said mechanism contemporaneously with the operation of aselected finger-lever; means to automatically release said pedalindependently of said finger-lrwer and, means arranged to place saidmechain ism under the control of said finger-lever and remove ittherefrom at the will of the operator, substantially as set forth.

1]. ln a musical instrument, the combination with a series of leversoperatively related to sounding devices; of a pneumatic tracker-bar;mechanism arranged to operate the respective levers in any sequei'iceprede termined by [)OTfOIzLt-lODS in a Web traversing said bar; memberadapted to engage a pedal affecting said. smmding devices; means adaptedto operate said 'n'ien'iber under control of a selected lever of saidseries and means arranged to release said member, after its operation,independently of said controlling fingerdever, substantially as setforth.

12. In a musical instrument, the oombination with a series of leversoperatively re lated to the strings of a piano or similar in: strument;of a pneumatic tracker bar; mechanism arranged to operate the respectivelevers in any sequence predetermined by perforations in a Web traversingsaid trackerbar; a member adapted to engage the pedal of a piano orsimilar instrument; a motor ar ranged to operate said member; apneumatic valve arranged to render said member open ative; and, meansindependent of said levers arranged to release said member as aconsequence of the movement of operation of sain member, substantiallyas set forth.

13. In a musical instrument, the comb ne-- tion With a series of leversoperatively related to the strings of a piano or similar instrument; ofa pneumatic tracker bar; mechanism arranged to operate the respectivelevers in any sequence predetern'nned by perforations in a Webtraversing said trackerbar a member adapted to engage the pedal of apiano or similar instrument; a motor arranged to operate said member;pneu matic valve arranges to render said :rnember operative; and, apneumatic valve ar ranged to release said member as a cons quence of themovement of operation of said member, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, this 23d day of January, 190%.

PHILIP "NUEST,

Witnesses:

ARTHUR E. PAIGE, ANNA F. Gnrzrnnan.

